Inishowen Peninsula – Spiritual Home of the Doherty Clan

Posted On 2012-05-28 06:21:38 | Read 4083 times | 0 Comments

The O’Doherty name has survived in the area of Inishowen for many centuries and along with the O’Donnells, have ruled Inishowen. The clan Chiefs had lived in various places since the fourteenth century and it is only when the later O’Dohertys, such as Sean Mor O’Doherty, submitted to Henry V111 in 1541 and was Knighted that we have any records of their dwellings. He is later known as Sir John Og O’Doherty, who died in 1601, whose son was Sir Cahir O’Doherty.

The world famous guide book Lonely Planet describes the Inishowen Peninsula:

“The sprawling Inishowen (Inis Eoghain) Peninsula, with Lough Foyle to the east and Lough Swilly to the west, reaches just far enough out into the Atlantic to qualify as Ireland’s northernmost point: Malin Head. It is remote, rugged, desolate and sparsely populated, making it a special and quiet sort of place. Ancient sites and ruined castles abound, as do traditional thatched cottages that aren’t yet being used as storage sheds.

The towns in the next section are part of a route that follows the road west of Derry up the coast of Lough Foyle to Moville and then northwest to Malin Head, before heading down the western side to Buncrana. If you’re coming from Donegal, the peninsula can be approached from the southwest by turning off for Buncrana on the N13 road from Letterkenny to Derry.